Bluffton in Beaufort County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Bluffton

Photographed by Glen Umberger, October 24, 2022

1. Bluffton Marker (side 1)

Inscription.
Originally known as May River, and later as Kirk's Bluff, Bluffton was settled as a resort town where planters could escape the hot, malarial summers of lowcountry plantations. The streets were laid out in the 1830s and much of the early development took place along Calhoun and Bridge Streets. Bluffton's commerce was largely a result of the river trade, and a steamboat landing completed by the early 1850s served to increase traffic and spur growth.

During the Civil War, Union forces set fire to much of the town during a raid and short battle on June 4, 1863. After the war, Bluffton emerged as a local commercial center with a number of general stores operating in the town. New transportation networks diverted traffic away from the river by the mid-20th century and trade declined. The rise in tourism since the 1990s has served as a catalyst for Bluffton's reemergence as a resort destination.

Erected 2014 by South Carolina Department of Archives and History; sponsored by Bluffton Historical Preservation Society. (Marker Number 7-51.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce

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• Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil.

Location. 32° 14.234′ N, 80° 51.755′ W. Marker is in Bluffton, South Carolina, in Beaufort County. It is on May River Road (State Highway 46) near Dubois Lane, on the right when traveling east. Marker was mowed down in a DUI accident, early 2005, and missing. Per conversation with Historical Society, Marker to be replaced upon completion of road improvements, SC-46, perhaps before this years end. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bluffton SC 29910, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Lowcountry

and on the Sea Islands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At

Bluffton Marker (side 2) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Glen Umberger, May 24, 2022

2. Bluffton Marker (side 2)

least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Town of Bluffton, South Carolina (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Campbell Chapel A.M.E. (about 700 feet away); The Burning of Bluffton (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Town of Bluffton, South Carolina (approx. 0.2 miles away); Michael C. Riley Schools (approx. ¼ mile away); First Zion Baptist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bluffton United Methodist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Church of the Cross (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bluffton.

Regarding Bluffton. The town of Bluffton, located in what was the King's grant to Lord Proprietor Colleton, has had quite an interesting and important history. Originally settled by Native American tribes who lived off the plentiful oysters, clams and shrimp in local waterways, Bluffton was ultimately "discovered" by wealthy Savannah plantation owners in the early nineteenth century. At that time, Bluffton served as an important summer destination, where families of area rice and cotton plantation owners could escape the heat and malaria that afflicted

Bluffton Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Glen Umberger, November 29, 2022

3. Bluffton Marker

Heyward House (70 Boundary Street)

coastal plantations in the summer months. Located on a scenic bluff overlooking the May River, Bluffton offered plenty of boating, fishing, crabbing and shrimping opportunities. With easy access to Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston, Bluffton became an important distribution center, shipping valuable crops across the Southeast and beyond. Eventually, this active commerce brought year-round residents to Bluffton. In 1844, area planters rebelled against unfair federal import taxes, leading to the historic "Bluffton Movement." Area planters gathered beneath what is now known as the "Secession Oak," expressing their desire to secede from the Union. South Carolina ultimately became the first state to secede from the Union sixteen years later, causing a national uproar. On June 4, 1863, Union gunboats and infantrymen charged up the river to Bluffton to squelch Confederate insurrections. A fierce battle ensued, but Confederate soldiers were outnumbered and outgunned. When Union forces finally withdrew, dozens of local homes and churches had been shelled, torched or otherwise destroyed. Over the years, Bluffton has recovered from its losses

Church of the Cross (110 Calhoun Street) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Glen Umberger, March 21, 2023

4. Church of the Cross (110 Calhoun Street)

during the Civil War and grown to become one of the most vibrant metropolitan areas along the South Carolina coast. Many of Bluffton's antebellum homes and churches still stand today, offering a fascinating window into the area's past. With more and more people moving to the Bluffton area each year, the town continues to grow, welcoming new residents from near and far.

Heyward Cove image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Glen Umberger

5. Heyward Cove

Credits. This page was last revised on May 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2023, by Glen Umberger of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,016 times since then and 329 times this year. Last updated on April 3, 2023, by Glen Umberger of Bluffton, South Carolina. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 29, 2023, by Glen Umberger of Bluffton, South Carolina. 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 30, 2023, by Glen Umberger of Bluffton, South Carolina. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.